Speaking of jig fishing...

There's some really good information about fishing jigs being shared in another thread, and I didn't want to hijack it, but it's brought to mind another question: Once I use one of those wonderful tips and get a bite using a jig, what's the best way to set the hook and fight the fish? Is a sideways sweep better, or should you bring the rod up to twelve o'clock? And do you do it differently if you're fishing in heavy cover or timber, as opposed to say, a weedy or rocky bottom?

Me, I'm done flailing around trying a little bit of this technique, then a little of that, and not really knowing how to do any of them right. For me, it's jigs only for the time being, at least until I feel really confident using them. Reading this forum has convinced me that's the way to go. That, and the Do-It jig mold my girlfriend bought me for Christmas :)

I learned to worm / jig fish by just setting the hook on anything that felt different. After you hook up with a fish a few times you will learn what it feels like. I hooked a lot of weeds, rocks and stumps before I figured out what the fish fell like when they take the jig or worm.

I best describe it as a series or taps. Tap Tap Tap or just a Tap Tap. But you will know when a fish picks up the jig. And if you have ever watched a bass or even a crappie **** in a bait you know how they do it. They flair their gills and **** in a bunch of water into their opened mouth. And they can spit that water back out just as quick.

So my advice to you is to set the hook one and then twice to make sure that you have a good hook set on any big fish. If "I" am going to loose a big fish I want it to be right away not after I end up playing the fish for 10 mintues and she gets off right before I can get the net on her. I say her because we all know that the women have the bigger mouths. LOL I mean that the female bass are bigger than the males for the most part.

This should bring out any women hiding behind online names that don't sound female. LOL

Just kiddin girls!

My preference is setting the hook with a quick snap up and back with the rod in front of me. I usually have the rod in front of me so this is the most comfortable to me. If you use a longer rod and strong line there isn't a need for the dance that some people do as the bow down and almost walk backwards to set the hook sideways. JMO

i have been playing with some hook setting this past year since i fished mostly fun and not tournaments,i will say from my experience for what it is worth...when you get the good jig thump and you're tight with the fish give quick snap and keep your line tight get the rod down and let him do what he wants and just reel to keep the slack out.I personally don't see why people set the hook like they are saltwater fishin.I landed many by just reeling when i got bit,mainly seeing how far i could get em in without jerking.i don't see how the pros don't lose more fish than they do by running around the boat,all that to me is just asking to allow slack and let him loose.jmo

Another thing I've learned over the past 27 years of tournament fishing. I use a jig quite a bit as well and I line watch more than anything when fishing a jig. What I mean is I watch my line from the rod to the water. If it moves from where it is in the water sideways one way or the other. I don't wait for a tap tap, I set the hook instantly. What has happened is a Bass has already taken the bait and is running for deep water. You have just not felt him pick up the bait and felt the tap tap yet. Another line watching way is while watching the line, you see the line twitch or jump just the slightest bit...A Bass has inhaled the bait and I set the hook asap and 9 out of 10 times I've got a Bass on the end of my line. So once you get used to feeling the tap tap tap of the Bass pulling on the bait. Then learn to watch the line and you'll be amazed at how many more fish you catch in a days time....When their biting that is....lol:)

I am always ready to set the hook when fishing a jig. That is I am carefull not to get my rod tip too high, so that I don't have to reel down and set. Denny B. wrote about never getting his rod above the 45 degree mark when fishing a jig. I usually do a straight overhead snap. In heavier cover, you are usually using a little heavier line, and your first priority (after setting the hook) is to get them out of cover as quick as possible. That is to turn their head in the hookset, and to keep that heavy pressure on them until they are out of the cover. I learned this quick after a few times on my belly in the boat with my arm in the water up to my shoulder trying to lip a fish free that was tangled in a tree.

You need to match your line and rod together too for heavier cover. If you are using a really heavy line (braid) you need to have a rod with a softer tip so that you aren't ripping the jig from the fish mouth - that braid is not forgiving.

I also really trim the weed gaurds when I don't need as much protection. In open water, I use a jig without one. There was a little article in the new Bassmaster about removing all weedgaurds, and attaching one of those spring trailer attachements to the jig eye and kind of putting your trailer on texas rig style - I am definitely going to try this out soon.

I usually only do the sweeping hookset when fishing a carolina rig. I lost alot of fish on a rig doing the overhand hookset before I was told about sweeping it. You got to think about that weight on the bottom and the leader. Sweeping it allows you to pull all of that to eventually drive the hook in. An overhand hookset, will probably just pull that weight off the bottom a few feet, but put little pressure on the hook at the end of the leader.

one other thing,if you want to get the feel of the bite go now and tightline jigs in deep water for crappie,if you do this all winter it will sharpen your bass skills and you won't be a second or 2 behind on a jig bite this spring.you will learn line watching and if you get used to watching 4 and 6lb line 12 will look like a ski rope.Also many will probably disagree but use flor.clear blue line until you get better.unless the water is really clear i don't think it hurts my numbers.i caught alot jig fishing deep this summer at nolin during the day after a night,i don't have enough reels to take clear and flour so after daylight it's still flour. blue.

In my opion you can read every article ever wrote about jig fishing but the only way to learn is to go do it. Dont get me wrong you can get some great info but the best way to learn is to fish them. 5 years ago I dont think I even owned a jig now that is all I want to do. The best way to learn is to go to the lake during the spring when a jig bite is usually good and take nothing but a jig pole and a box full of jigs. Leave everything else at home and make your self fish a jig all day long. All it will take is that one good bite to have you wanting to fish a jig more and the more you fish it, the more fish you will catch on them, the more confidence you will have.